Button assembling machine



W. C. BROADWELL BUTTON ASSEMBLING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 17. 1949 INVENT R.

BY [Lu-4);;

ATTOIPNEX Aug. 17, 1954 w. c. BROADWELL BUTTON ASSEMBLING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 17, 1949 A TTOR/VE Y A 18. 17, 1954 w. c. BROADWIELL 2, 86,619

BUTTON ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 17. 1949 T T F l A Q NEY Aug. 17, 1954 w. c. BROADWELL BUTTON ASSEMBLING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 17, 1949 q 2 IN EN TOR.

Patented Aug. 17, 1954 BUTTON ASSEMBLING MACHINE William C. Broadwell, Falo Alto, Calif., assignor to Assembled Products Incorporated, Milford,

Conn;

Application September 17, 1949, Serial No. 116,384

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for use in assembling, with reference to each other, the essential elements of a well known type of clasp whichis widely employed in such wearing apparel as hose or stocking s ipporters and is character ized by thefact that it includes a wire frame shaped at one end to provide a garment-receiving loop to receive the shank portion of a garmentqetaining button carried at one end of a flexible tab, the opposite end of which tab is secured to an anchor clip which. is in turn secured to the side of frame.

ileretoiore the cost of assembling clasps of the above has been excessively out of proportion with respect to other costs encountered in their manufacture, the excess cost of assembly being in a large measure due to the difficult and tiring manual operation involved in forcing the garment-retaining buttons into impinging relation. to the garment-receiving loop of the wire frames as a final assembly step in conditioning the clasps for shipment.

An important object of the present invention is to provid a simple, eflicient and reliable ma chine by which all ofthe assembly steps involved in the production of clasps of the above character may be carried out with pronounced accuracy and economy, such steps being those which are performed in first securing the anchor clipto the side arms of the wire frame, then in securing the flexible tab to said clip, and finally in forcing the garment-retaining button into its impinging relation to the garment-receiving loop at the end of said frame.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine embodying the present invention, 1

Fig. 2 is a fragmental plan view of the feed end of the machine appearing at the right in Figure 1,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an anchor clip as it. appears before being incorporated into the clasp, i

Fig. 4 is a fragmental sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1 and showing certain details of construction commonto' each of a plurality of carriages constituting important elements of an endless chaimlike conveyor extending 1ongitudinally of the machine,

Fig.5 is a fragm'ent'al sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1 andillustrating the relationship between the respective actuating means for the conveyor and thetab-folding and button-in serting unit.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental sectional view showing the conveyor actuating pitman rod, as seen from the rear of the machine in Figures 1 and 5, and illustrating the bell-crank connection between that rod and a reciprocatory slide unit by which the conveyor is moved step-by-step,

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 'l-'! of Figure 6 and showing certain details of the slide unit as they appear during such time as the conveyor is being advanced,

Fig. 8 is a fragmental sectional view taken on line %---8 of Figure 1 and showing the tab positioning plunger in relation to its associated crimping tool, the former of which is adapted to engage the tab ant. insure its being properly abutted against the anchor clip along the longitudinal line of fold thereof before the end lugs or fingers of the clip are folded over into anchoring engagement with the side arms of the wire frame,

Fig. 9 is a fragmental sectional view showing the folding arm of the tab-folding and buttoninserting unit as having been moved out of its position, shown in Figure 5 and into engagement with an upstanding tab at a station following the station at which the anchor clips are folded into impinging engagement with the tabs,

Fig. 10 is a view similar to that of Figure 9 and showing the folding arm of the tab-folding and button-inserting unit as having moved the free end of the tab to such a position that the button may be forced into the garment-receiving loop of the wire frame,

Fig. 11 is a view similar to that of Figure 10,

but with the tab-folding and button-inserting unit omitted and the button illustrated as having been forced into the garment-receiving loop of the wire frame by said unit,

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on line l2l2 of Figure 11,

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on line l3-l3 of Figure 10,

Fig. 14 is a. sectional view taken on line ll|4 of Figure 11, the arm by which the hold-down finger for the wire loop is Supported being shown in full lines.

Fig. 15 is a fragmental plan view of the endless chain-like conveyorand illustrating the progress of assembly that is effected in connection with the component elements of the clasp as the upper reach of the conveyor is moved step -by-step along its path of travel from right to left,

Fig. 16 is a fragmental view showing in side ele-f vation the conveyor-actuated driving mechanism by which its associated escapement wheel is rotated step-by-step in controlling the feeding of anchor clips to the carriages of the conveyor as 3 such carriages move successively into clip-receiving positions beneath said wheel, and

Fig. 17 is a fragmental view showing a pair of the conveyor carriages in relation to the conveyor-actuated driving mechanism at such time as the carriages and the driving mechanism are in their respective normal positions of rest, the carriages being shown in section on a horizontal plane substantially coincident with the upper faces of the conveyor guide rails and the vertically disposed pawl-carrying flange of the driving mechanism being shown in section on a horizontal plane passing through the same on a line slightly above the upper faces of said rails.

The machine herein illustrated as embodying the present invention is designed for use in assembling clasps, which, as will be understood from an inspection of Figures 3, 10, 11, 14 and 15, are characterized, for example, by the fact that they each comprise a wire frame 25, the side arms of which are held together in an abutting relation at one end of the frame by a suitable retaining sleeve 2! and are so formed at the opposite end of the frame as to there provide a garment-receiving loop 22 adapted to cooperate with the conventional type of button element herein shown as including a button 23 and a flexible tab 2 3, one end of which tab is anchored to said frame through the medium of a metal clasp 25 and the other cnd of which is connected to said button, the usual shank portion of which is' adapted to be introduced into and removed from said garment-receiving loop. Referring especially to Figure 3, it will be noted that the anchor clip 25 includes a base flange 26 and a clamp-flange 2? formed integral with each other along a line of fold 28, the base flange being provided at its opposite ends with a pair of holding lugs 25 adapted to be crimped or folded into anchoring engagement with the side arms of the wire frame 28 and the clamp-flange being provided with an inwardly turned gripping margin or edge 35 which is adapted to impinge against one end of the flexible tab 2 3 and thus anchor it to the wireframe through the medium of said anchor clip as the clamp-flange thereof is moved into its anchoring position shown in Figure 11.

As will be understood from Figures 1 and 5, a suitable type of conventional power operated punch press, modified as required and indicated generally by the numeral 35, is employed as a basic or primary unit of the assembling machine herein illustrated as embodying the present inv'ention. Generally speaking the punch press 3% includes a table-like base 32, on which is supported a frame 33, in the upper end of which is journaled a crank shaft 55, provided intermedi ate its ends with a crank 34 and carrying at one end a driven gear 35, meshing with a driving gear 55, secured to one end of a power shaft 37, suitably mounted, as shown in Figure 5, and adapted to be driven from any suitable source of power, such as an electric motor 38, through the medium of a pair of pulleys 39 and 56 operatively connected to each other by a belt M, said pulleys being respectively connected to the shaft of the motor 38 and to the power shaft 37. The press 31 furtherincludes the usual bolster plate 42 and ram 43, the latter of which is connected to the crank 34 of the shaft 34 by the usual pitman 44 andis guided in its vertical reciprocation by the ram guides 45. Between the driven gear 35 and its associated crank shaft 34, there is provided the usual clutch 46, which is adapted to so respond to the operation'of a suitable control aesacie 4 lever 41 that said gear and said shaft may be conveniently connected to and disconnected from each other at will and maintained in a connected or disconnected relation for so long a period as the operator may desire.

As shown most clearly in Figure l, the machine includes an endless chain-like conveyor, which is indicated generally by the numeral 43 and comprises a base 49, carried by and suitably connected to the bolster plate 42. At each end of the conveyor base 49 there is suitably connected a pair of bearing blocks Ell-58, between which are supported, as on pins or shafts 5!, a pair of sprockets 52-53, which are accommodated within suitable notches 54 formed in said base at opposite ends thereof, only one of such notches being shown and that appearing in Figure 2.

Supported by and suitably connected to the conveyor base 49 are a pair of vertically disposed guide rails 55-56, which extend from one end of the machine to the other in a parallel and -'contiguous relation to the longitudinal center line of said base. To that end of the guide rail 55 nearest the discharge end of the machine there is suitably connected a frame-supporting rail 55, which, as shown in Figure 5, is spaced from said guide rail and as shown in Figure l, is provided with an arcuate finger 5'! following the periphery of the sprocket 53 to the extent of approximately 90 and adapted to aid in supporting the assembled clasps preparatory to their being released from the conveyor 48.

The guide rails 5555 are adapted to accommodate there-between, and thus guide along a definite path, the upper reach of an endless conveyor chain 58 which, through means hereinafter particularly described, is moved step-bystep over the sprockets 52 and 53 in the direction indicated by the arrow A of Figure i. As will be best understood from Figures 1, 6 to ll, 15 and 17, the chain 58 includes a plurality of carriages 59 pivotally connected to each other in series by suitable links 68. Each of the carriages includes a carriage block 6! which is formed with a slot 62 extending lengthwise thereof, the slots being adapted to receive the ends of the links which are held in their respective chain-forming positions by suitable link-supporting pins or rivets 63.

The carriages 59 are adapted to receive at the feed-end of the conveyor 28 the component elements of the clasps, namely, the anchor clips 25, the wire frames 28 and the button-carrying tabs 24, which elements are moved in one group after another in unison with the conveyor from right to left, reference being had to Figure l, in order that the assembling operations to be hereinafter more particularly described may be carried out and the completed units discharged at the delivery end of the machine in the condition of that unit appearing at the extreme left in Figure 15. V

In order that the anchor clips 25, when delivered to the carriages 59, may be held thereon in definite positions, each carriage block 6| is provided in its upper face, reference being had especially to Figure 11, with a clip-receiving recess 64 adapted to accommodate the base flange V 26 of the respective anchor clips.

At opposite ends of the recess as, the carriage block 6 i as clearly shown in Figure 15, is provided witha pair of lugs 65, which define the longitu- V dinal extent of said recess. The lugs are relieved, as are the ends of the carriage blocks 6|, so as to provide clearance slots 56, which are adapted to permit the entrance of a suitable crimping tool 61 (Figs. 1 and 8) by which the lugs 29 of the respective anchor clips 25 are folded into anchoring engagement with the side arms of the respective wire frames, as will hereinafter more clearly appear. As shown most clearly in Figure 15, each carriage block BI is provided, intermediate the lugs 55 thereof, with a tab-supporting lug '58. From an inspection of Figures and 11, it will be understood that each supporting lug as presents an upper inclined face on which the tabs 2 3 are initially supported, in part. Also from Figures 10 and 11, it will be understood that the relatively wide rear faces of the supporting lugs 58 are disposed in the plane of the rear faces of the respective carriage blocks iii and that the relatively narrow front faces of said lugs are so disposed with relation to the clipreceiving recesses es of said blocks as to guard against undue rearward displacement of the clips 25 after having been delivered to their proper positions on the carriages 59. As shown most clearly in Figures ll and 15, the supporting lugs 83 are each provided with a recess 69 adapted to accommodate such portions of the tabs 24 as may be temporarily depressed slightly out of its normal plane under the impinging action of a tabpositioning plunger it, which, as shown in Figure 8, is located at the rear of the crimping tool $7 in a spaced relation thereto, said plunger being hereinafter more particularly described and adapted, as will later appear, to insure proper positioning of the tabs in abutting relation to the respective clips 25 before their clamp-flanges El are moved into tab-anchoring positions. Here it may be well to mention that it is necessary to insure proper positioning of the lower ends of the tabs 2d transversely of themselves so that they will be centered between the holding lugs 29 of the anchor clips 25 in order that such lugs may be crimped into anchoring engagement with the side arms of the respective wire frames 28 without impinging on the side margins of said tabs, and to this end there is provided a tab-centering tool 20s. The centering tool 2% is suitably connected to the ram $3 for movement therewith and is provided with a pair of tapered fingers 29! which are adapted to straddle the respective tabs 24 as the ram moves downwardly and shift them transversely in either one direction or the other, as the case may require, so that they will assume a centered relation between the holding lugs 29 of their respectively associated anchor clips 25 before being advanced from a position of rest beneath the centering tool to a position of rest beneath the tab-positioning plunger H1.

As will be understood from an inspection of Figure 15, the wire frames 20 are positioned on the respective carriages 59 following the successive introduction of the anchor clips 25, said frames being so shaped that their side arms are adapted to assume such positions when resting on the base flanges 26 of said clips that they (as shownin connection with the second and third carriage from the right in Fig. engage or substantially engage the inner faces of the upstanding or uncrimped anchor lugs 29 and are slightly spaced from the opposite ends of the respective up-standing clamp-flanges 21. In order that the rearwardly diverging portions of the side arms of the wire frames 26 may be ac-:

that they are adapted to engage or substantially engage the diverging portions of said frames and thus serve to hold them against any undue shifting transversely of themselves.

Referring to Figures 4, 7 to ll and 15 to 1'7, it will be noted that to the rear face of each carriage block 6! there is suitably connected, as by the link-supporting pins 63 (Fig. 17), a plate H, one end of which is flush with the forward end of its associated carriage block (regard being had to the travel of the conveyor chain 58 in the direction indicated by the arrow A in Figs. 1 and 17 and the other end of which terminates in close proximity to the forward end of the next following carriage block. That portion of each plate "II which is connected in a face-to-face relation to its associated carriage block El is provided with a pair of upwardly and rearwardly extending tab supporting arms 12, which, as will be'understood from Figures 1, 6, 14, 15 and 16, are spaced from each other and lie in a common inclined plane.

As best shown in Figures 9, 1d and 11, the tabsupporting arms is are so spaced with relation to the rear face of the respective tah-supporting lugs 68 as to there provide a channel, adapted to so receive the retaining sleeve it, by which the meeting ends of the respective wire frames 2d are held together in an abutting relation, that said sleeve engages the front faces of said tabsupporting arms and the rear face of said tabsupporting lug, with the result that the wire frame is held against displacement longitudinally of itself. Since the wire frames Ell are held, in the manner just described, against displacement longitudinally of themselves and are also held, as previously described, against shifting transversely of themselves by reason of their engagement with the lugs t5, it follows that the anchor clips 25 are positively held against displacement, at the instant the frames are placed in their assembly-positions, due to the fact that the frames and clips become interlocked through the medium of the unclenched holding lugs 29, as shown in connection with the carriage 5E3 appearing in second position from the right in Figure 15.

Referring again to the tab-supporting arms l2, it will be noted that those of each pair are so formed that they present at their upper ends a pair of forwardly extending ears which are so spaced from each other as to receive therebetween the loutton carrying tabs 2t, against the side edges of which the ears are adapted to slightly impinge so that the tabs may be temporarily held rearwardly inclined in their supported positions, as shown in Figures 5, 8 and 15, with their lower ends resting on the clips 25 and there positioned to be anchored to them between their flanges 26 and 27.

In order that the gap between the carriages 55 may be closed at such time as they may be traveling in the path of the upper reach of the conveyor chain 58 so as to obviate the possibility of any objects falling into the chain that might obstruct its operation, that portion of each plate H which extends from one carriage block 6i to the next following block, as shown in vFigure 17, is provided at its upper margin, as will be understood from an inspection of Figures 1, 2, 5, 6 and 15, with a table-like guard flange M which is of such length that it extends from one carriage to the next in the upper reach of said chain and is ofsuch width that it transversely bridges the chain-receiving space through which the chain passes intermediate the guide rails 55 and 5t.

Itis desirable, of course, that the upper reach of the conveyor chain 58 be supported froinbelobes II 4 and a series of valley-like indentures H5, the lobes and indentures being disposed in an alternate relation to each other. As will be appreciated from an inspection of Figure 16, the lobes H4 and indentures H are so dimensioned that as the escapement wheel is rotated step-bystep a definite distance, by means soon to be described, the anchor clips 2'5 are permitted to move downwardly on the chute Hi3 and assume, one after another, an interlocking engagement with successive lobes of the escapement wheel, as illustrated in connection with the lower-most anchor cli appearing on the chute in Figure 16. Here it may be well to mention that the anchor clips 25 respectively assume the position of the lower-most clip appearing on the chute I83 in Figure 16 coincident with the completion of each step-by-step movement of the escapement wheel H3 in the direction of the arrow C appearing thereon, each such clip being restrained by that lobe lit with which it is interlocked until said wheel is again moved in the direction of said arrow, whereupon it is released and permitted to I slide down said chute and drop intoits proper position on some one of the carriages 59 then at rest in clip-receiving position adjacent the lower end of the chute. It is to be noted that so long as any anchor clip is held in its restrained position by the escapement wheel I l3, such other clips as are then carried by the chute I53 and await downward passage thereon are held against such movement, because they, as shown in Figure l6, abut each other and, as a group, engage the clip that is being held in its restrained position by said wheel. However, as the last men tioned anchor clip 25 begins its release-movement in response to displacement of the escapement wheel IE3 in the direction of the arrow C, the following clips, as a group, are permitted to move downwardly on the chute N23, with the result that the foremost clip of said group enters into a meshing relation with the lobe H4 next following the one from which said last mentioned clip is then being released and finally, as said escapement wheel comes to rest, assumes the clip-restraining position previously occupied by the clip last to be released.

In order that the escapement wheel I it may be rotated stepby-step in the direction of the arrow C appearing thereon in Figure 16, there is provided a conveyor-actuated driving mechanism indicated generally by the reference character I I5. The driving mechanism I I6 is mounted for. reciprocation on a supporting block I I! carried by and suitably connected to the conveyor base 49, said block being disposed in a contiguous relation to the conveyor chain 53 and provided with a air of upwardly extending guide flanges H3, between which a reciprocatory slide-plate H9 is mounted for movement in a parallel relation to said chain. The plate lie is formed intermediate its ends with a transverse guide channel i2i adapted for the reception of a slidable chainengaging dog or finger I22, the chain-engaging end of which is accommodated within a suitable depression 523 provided in the guide rail 55. To the upper face of the slide-plate I19 there is suitably connected a hold-down plate I 24, by which the chain-engaging dog .22 is held against upward displacement. As will be understood from an inspection of Figure 17, the dog H2 is held against undue displacement transversely of the slide plate i It by reason of the fact that the hold-down plate I24 is provided with a slot-like opening I25, within which is accommodated the upper end of a stop-pin I26, secured to said dog intermediate its ends. The dog are is held in its normal or extended position, as shown in Figure 17, by a suitable spring I22 one end of which is anchored with respect to the hold-down plate I24, as by a screw E28, and the other end of which engages the stop-pin 26. In order that the slide plate 5 I9 may be properly held down on the supporting-block I ii and yet be permitted to reciprocate thereon, the plate sac and the hold-down plate I25 are provided with correspondingly located elongated slot like openings i29i3il, respectively, which are adapted to accommodate the shank portion of a shouldered screw is i the head portion of which overlies said hold-down plate in the marginal vicinity of the slot sec. The hold-down plate I2 5 is provided at the longitudinal margin thereof nearest the guide-rail 55 with a vertically disposed pawlcarrying flange E32, the upper edge of which, for the most part, is sloped in accordance with the inclination of the chute 33. To the flange I32, relatively near the rear end thereof, there is suitably connected a bearing-pin E33, on which is pivotally supported a driving pawl 53 5, the upper end of which is adapted, as will hereinafter more clearly appear, to so cooperate with a series of pins I35, which are carried by the escapement wheel MS, as to effect stepby-step rotation of that wheel in the direction indicated by the arrow C of Figure 16. The pawl I34), as shown most clearly in Figure 16, carries a downwardly and rearwardly extending trailer arm I35, the lower end of which is adapted to engage and ride along on the upper face of the guide rail 55 as said pawl is moved forwardly in unison with the slide-plate l iii. In order that the slide-plate till, after having completed its forward movement, may be returned to its starting position against a suitable stop Itl, shown in Figures 16 and 17, there is provided a tension spring E33, one end of which is suitably anchored to the coverplate EM and the other end of which, not shown, may be suitably connected to any appropriate part of the machine.

Taking into account the foregoing description and especially considering Figures 16 and 17, it will be understood that as the conveyor chain 555 is moved step-by-step by the slide unit is in the manner previously described, the dog E22, when positioned as shown in Figure 17, will be engaged by successive carriage blocks 6i and moved forwardly in unison with the slide-plate Iii As the dog i222 moves forwardly, in driven engagement with any one of the carriage blocks 55, the pawl I3 3 engages such one of the pins M55 as may then be located in its path of travel and thereupon causes the escapeinent wheel lid to move in the direction indicated in Figure 16 by the arrow 0. Shortly before the conveyor chain 5 3 completes a definite step forward, the chainengagin end of the dog H22, which presents a cam surface 533 at its leading edge, mkes contact with the forward end wall or" the depression 523 and is forcibly retracted to such an extent as to be released from engagement with the forward end of its accompanying carriage block 6!, whereupon the slide-plate Mil is returned to its normal or starting position under the action of the spring E33, it being noted that duringthe return movement of the slid -plate said dog passes I rearwardly along the side of said associated car- 11' carriage block. Here it is to be noted that the relationship between the group of pins I35 and the conveyor-actuated driving mechanism M6 is such that rotation of the escapement wheel M3 to the required extent is completed at the instant the dog i222 is cammed out of its driven engagement with the respective carriage blocks iii, the driven engagement of the dog with said blocks being severed at or very slightly prior to such time as the respective blocks come to rest in clipreceiving position at the lower end of the chute I83, as shown in Figure 16. It will be understood, of course, that since the trailer arm I33 of the driving pawl 34 engages the guide rail 55 during the entire course of forward movement of the driving mechanism i it, said pawl is positively restrained against displacement in a clock-wise direction (Fig. 16) about its associated bearin pin E33. Such restraint of the pawl 234 is essential in order that it may exert a positive driving action on the respective pins I35 of the escapement wheel M3 and thus insure proper step-bysteb rotation of that wheel. Referring further to Figure 16, it will be appreciated that the pawl 534, incident to each cycle of operation of the driving mechanism HE, engages one of the escapement wheel pins H5 at such time as said pawl reaches its first dotted line position at the right. Thereafter the pawl 534 continues to its second dotted line position at the left which corresponds to the limit of forward movement of the slide-plate i It. When the pawl H34 comes to rest in its second dotted line position, after having carried its engaging pin i355 forwardly to its position of rest, the upper end of said pawl engases the next succeeding pin, as the slide-plate H9 is being returned to its starting position under the action of its associated sprin E38, and is thereby moved in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 16), thus permitting it to pass under that pin, whereupon the trailer arm E36 drops.

under its own weight into engagement with the guide rail 55, thus conditioning the pawl for another cycle of operation in effecting step-by-step rotation of the escapement wheel I E3.

As the anchor clips 25 are placed on the respective carriages 59 by the feed unit )2 in the manner previously described, such carriages continue in their step-by-step movement along the path of travel of the upper reach of the conveyor chain 58 and as they come to rest one after another at some convenient location before reaching the tab-centering tool 200 (which tool, like the crimping tool 6'! and the tab-positioning tool 18 and the flange-clenching tool MP9, is suitably connected to the ram 43 for vertical reciprocation therewith) the machine operator places the wire frames 28 on the carriage blocks 6!, as shown at the right in Figure 15, and then places the button-carrying tabs 2 on the supporting arms 12 where they are held supported in a proper relation to their associated anchor clips. As the carriages 59 successively come to rest beneath the tab-centering tool 286, the ram 43 moves downwardly carryingsaid tool with it into a straddling relation to the respective tabs 2a with the result that such tabs are shifted transversely of themselves by one or the other of the fingers 29!, as the case may require, and are thereby accurately centered between the holding lugs 29 of their associated anchor clips Following each tabcentering operation by the tool 268, the ram 43 is returned to its initial position. As the carriages 59 are successively moved to a position of rest beneath the crimping tool 6'5, the ram 43 moves downwardly carrying the crimping tool with it, with the result that the holdin lugs 29 of the respective anchor clips 25 are folded or crimped inwardly by said tool into anchoring engagement with the side arms of the individual wire frames 29. Following each lug-crimping operation by the tool Bl, the ram :23 and its associated crimping tool are returned to their initial position. Here it is to be noted that the tabpositioning plunger '59, which is normally held in its projected position by a suitable compression spring Md, moves in unison with the crimping tool 8": and doing so engages the button-carrying tabs 2 and urges the lower'ends thereof downwardly along the inclined face of the respective supporting lugs 58 so as to insure proper abutting positioning of the tabs with relation to the anchor clips 25 before the flanges 26 and 27 thereof are moved relatively into clamping engagement with said tabs by the flange-clenching tool Hid.

Followin each lug-crimping operation of the tool El, the conveyor chain 53 advanced another step, thus successively moving each car riage 59 from its prior position of rest beneath said tool to a position of rest beneath the flangeclenching tool itii. As each carriage 59 assumes its position of rest beneath the tool led, the ram 43 is moved downwardly carrying said tool with with the result that the clamp-flange 27 of the anchor clip 25 is moved downwardly towards the base flange 2%, thus causing the inwardly turned gripping margin or edge as of said clamp-flange to impinge against the button-carrying tab 24 and thereby anchor such tab to the wire frame 20.

As the button-carrying tabs 25 are successively anchored to the wire frames 29, thus completing the assembly operations by which the wire frames, the anchor clips 25 and button carrying tabs 24 are united in producing the respective clasps, such clasps are advanced step-by-step in accordance with the movement of the upper reach of the conveyor chain 58 and are successively brought to rest in such relation to the tab-folding and button-inserting unit WI as to enable that unit to fold said tabs out of their supported positions on the arms '12 (Figs. 5 and 15) into an overlying relation to their associated wire frame 20, as will be understood from an inspection of Figures 9 and 10, and thereupon move the buttons 23 forwardly from their initial positions intermediate the side arms of the respective wire frames into the garment receiving loops 22 where the shank portions of said buttons are frictionally held, thus maintaining the button-carrying tabs in a substantially flat condition as shown in Figures 11, 14 and 15.

Referring more particularly to the tab-fold ing and button-inserting unit Hi i it will be noted that such unit includes a tab-folding arm Ml, which, as shown in Figures 5, 9 and 10, is pivotally connected to the upper end of a suitably supported bracket M2. The arm Ml is normally held in its position shown in Figure 5 by a spring M3, one end of which is suitably connected to said arm and the other end of which is anchored to the punch press frame 33. The arm l4! carries a laterally extending pin M4, which is located in the vertical path of movement of a cam-plate I45, suitably connected to the ram 43 for vertical movement therewith. The plate terminates at its lower end in a cam M5 which is of such contour that it is adapted to so displace the cooperatively related pin HM as to cause the arm Ml to move against the action of the spring MS, from its normal position (Fig. to a definiteextent to the completion of each downstroke of the ram 43,, said spring then being adapted to return the arm I 4| to its normalposition as the ram returns to its starting position. As shown most clearly in Figure 13; the arm MI carries at its outer end a pair of side plates 1 ti, between which is pivotally supported. a tab-engaging latch I48, provided with a notch-like detent H59 (Figs. 9 and 10) and carrying a rearwardly extending guide finger I511, the lower face of which is slightly curved throughout its length and merges with the upper wall of said detent. The latch hit is provided with a forwardly extending trip finger I5I, between which and the overhanging end of the arm Ml there is carried a compression spring I52 serving to normally maintain said latch in tab-engaging position with its guide finger E58 abutting against the lower face of said arm, as shown best in Figure 9. Referring to Figures 5 and. 9, it will be understood that as the arm iii ismoved in the direction of the arrow D (Fig. 9)

the upper or free end of the button-carrying tab 24. will be engaged by a suitably curved guide strip I53, one end of which is let into said arm relatively near the pin I iii where it is anchored by a set screw I56 and the other end of which terminates adjacent the rear end of the guide finger I5Ii'. After the tab it has been engaged by the guide strip E53 and as the arm I continues its movement in the direction of the arrow D, the free end of said tab will slide along said strip and thence on to the guide finger E56 bywhi'ch it is guided into the detent I49, as shown in Figure 8, where it remains until automatically released. Release of the tab 24 from the detent M53 is auto matically effected, due to the fact that at or about the instant the arm lei reaches the full extent of its downward movement the latch. M8 is tilted a suffieient distance, as shown in Figure 10', to permit the button-end of the tab to escape from the detent, such escape being facilitated by reason of the fact that the extreme end of the guide finger E55] then impinges on the button-end oi the tab, tending to force the same downwardly.

Here it may be well to mention that the tilting action of the latch M8 is effected due to the fact that its trip finger iii! engages a suitable stationary stop 955 as the arm Mi approaches the lower limit of its downward movement and there by causes the latch to move in a counterclockwise direction against the action of the spring 552, reference being had to Figure 19, while said arm is completing its downward movement, the spring serving to return the latch 5 33 to its normal position as the arm 2M begins its return movement to normal position under. the action of its associated spring M3 hereinbefore mentioned in connection with Figure 5..

At the instant the button-end of the tab 24' is released from the latch M8, the button 23 assumes a position of temporary rest, as shown in Figure 10, with its shank portion disposed intermediate the side arms of the wire frame 28 and in readi ness to be moved forwardiy into the garmentreceiving loop 22, within which it assumes its final position as shown in Figure 11. Displacement of the button 23 from its position (Fig. l0) to its position (Fig. 11) is effected by a buttonengaging finger. 55% mounted on and carried by a reciprocatory slide block I51, which is normally held in its retracted position, as shown in Figure 10,.by a tension spring 858, one end of which is suitably connected to therear. of. said block. and

the other end of which is anchored to the punch press frame 33,. as shown in Figure 5. The slideblock. IE1 is mounted on the conveyor base it for reciprocatory movement beneath the upper reach of the conveyor chain 58 and is accommodated between adjacent ends of the beams lb-16, as will be understood from an inspection of Figures 1, ll, 13, said beams being located intermediate the guide rails 55-5t, as previously explained, and said rails bein cut away as shown at I59 (Figs. 11 and 13) in order that said block may be further accommodated for reciprocation. The front end of the slide-block i5? overhangs the conveyorbase as shown most clearly in Figures 5, l0, l1, l4, and is there straddled by a guideblock ltd, which is suitably connected to said base, as by screws iti appearing in Figure 1. The stationary stop 56 hereinbefore mentioned is suitably connected to the upper face of the guideblock 7156, as shown most clearly in Figures 9 and 10, said stop being located adjacent a rearwardly projecting ledge Hi2 (Figs. 9, 1G, 11) with which said guide-block is provided and on which the ends of therespectivegarment retaining loops 22 of the wire frames 2c are supported as the tabfolding and button-inserting operations are carried out. Here it may be well to mention that the loop ends of the wire frames 2d pass onto the ledge 82 from between a pair of guide arms M t--34 which are suitably connected to the guide-block. as shown in Figure l, and project therefrom in a contiguous relation to the upper reach of the conveyor chain Sit. These guidearins i2-iiit are adapted to receive there-between. the loop ends of the wire frames 26 as such frames approach the crimping tool ti and function. to retain them against undue vertical displacement during such time as the clips 25 being anchored to said frames by the crimping tool and during such time as the buttoncarrying tabs it are being anchored to said clips by the flange-clenching tool iiii Referring further to the tab-folding and button-inserting unit iti, it will be noted that the slide-block I5'i', as bestshown in Figure 11, is provided with a vertical opening adapted to resolve the lower of a belhcranit lever its, by which. said block. is moved forwardly against the action of its associated return spring H58, as and for the purpose hereina 'ter more particularly described. Referring especia' y to Figures 1', 1o, 11, it will he. noted that the guide' block IE8 is provided at one end thereof with a vertical post-like flange. it? to which is connected an upwardly extending inclined channel-like guide I63, the bottom. wail t cs of which is adaptedto receive a pair of bolts Iflii by which the guide, as a unit, is connected to said flange, and the side walls ill of which guide are adapted to accommodate a bearing pinii 532' on which. the bell-crank lever Hi6 is pivotally supported. Within the guide 15 3 there is located areciprocatory push-bar H3 which is provided intermediate its ends with a pair of elongated openings El i, adapted to accommodate a' pair of retaining pins I'ifi on which said bar is adaptedto slide, the retaining pins being carried by and suitably anchoredto the side walls I'll of said guide. To the lower end of the push-bar i lli, there is bolted, or otherwise suitably conn ted, a thrust-block I l8, the lower end of which cl ably engages the upper end or" the bell crank lever It'd, as will beunderstood from an inspection of Figures 9 and 11. ihe upper end of the push-bar Iit is equipped with a cam roller I'll,

which is adapted to be engaged, once for each 15 revolution of the crank shaft 34, by a relatively short cam H8 projecting from the peripheral face of a cam plate H9 associated with said shaft for rotation in unison therewith. In order to lend rigidity to the channel-like guide I68, such guide is provided at its upper end with a yoke-like stabilizer 589, the leg portion 165 of which is suitably connected to said guide, as by screws I82, and the diverging arm portions I83 of which straddle the hub portion I84 of the cam plate I79. The cam H3 is so positioned with relation to the crank 3d of the shaft 3d that at or about the instant the button-carrying tab E l assumes its folded position shown in Figure 10, said cam ell-- gages the roller Ill and so acts on it as to move the push-bar lit downwardly, thus causing the thrust-blocl H to so act on the upper end of the bell-crank lever 556 as to move that lever from its position shown in Figure 5 to its position shown in Figure 11. During such movement of the bell-crank lever ltd, the lower end of the same so acts on the slide-block I5? as to move it, against the action of the spring I St, from its position shown in Figure 5 to its position shown in Figure 11. As the slide-block I5? is moved in the manner just described, the button-engaging finger I56 is moved from its normal position shown in Figure 10 into engagement with the button 23 and carries it forwardly into the garment-receiving loop 22 of the wire frame 29 where it assumes its final position of rest, as shown in Figure 11, at the closed end of said loop as the slide-block completes its forward movement under the action of the bell-crank lever I55. Incident to completion of the button-inserting operation, as just described, the cam I78 releases its downward operating influence on the push-bar I73, thus permitting the spring l5?) to return the slideblock I51 to its normal position, shown in Figure 10, and at the same time allowing that spring to so act on the push bar, by way of the bell-crank lever I66 and the slide-block I57, as to return said bar to its elevated or normal position shown in Figure 5.

Here it may be well to point out in connection with the tab-folding operation that an essential requirement resides in the fact that the buttoncarrying tab 2% and the wire frame 28 be properly registered, as illustrated in Figure 13, at such time as the tab is released from the detent I49 of the tab-engaging latch its, so that the button 23 will unobstructedly enter between the side arms of said frame and there assume its position at the entrance end of the garment-receiving loop 22, as shown in Figure 10. In order to meet the foregoing requirement, the tab-folding arm MI is provided at its outer end with a pair of indexing plates I85, which, as shown in Figure 13, are connected, respectively, to the side plates I47 by a pair of bolts lSt (Fig. 10) which also serve to connect said side plates to the tab-folding arm. The indexing plates I85, as will be understood from an inspection of Figures 5 and 9, are provided with a pair of cars I87 which are spaced from each other a distance slightly greater than the width of the button-carrying tabs 24 in order that such tabs and their respectively associated wire frames 2e may be accommodated there-between and thus brought into pro-per registration at or about the instant the tab-folding arm MI reaches the limit of its downward movement, as shown in Figure 13 where said ears appear in vertical section.

It is desirable that the outer end of the garment-receiving loop 22 of the respective wire 16 frames be held with reasonable firmness on the ledge I62 (Figs. 5, 9, 10, 11,12, 14) during such time as the tab-folding and button-inserting operations are being carried out by the unit ill I, and to that end there is provided a hold-down finger I88, beneath which said frames pass as they emerge from between the guide arms I63 and IE4. The hold-down finger I83 is supported at one end by an arm E89, suitably connected, as shown most clearly in Figures 12 and 14, to the post-like flange it? of the guide-block IEEI, the other end of the hold-down finger being free, as shown in Figure 14, so as to permit the wire frames 20 and their respectively associated overlying button-carrying tabs 2% to move, as completed units, free and clear of said finger in their passage toward the discharge end of the conveyor 58 where they are released from the conveyor chain 58 as they pass over the arcuate finger 5'5. From an inspection of Figure 12 it will be understood that the upper face of the guide arm I64 li s in the plane of the upper face of the ledge H52 so as to facilitate passage of the wire frames 2% onto such ledge as they pass from between the guide arms l53l 64, and that the hold-down finger l 83 is so bent downwardly in the vicinity of its point of connection with the arm I89 that the wire frames successively move under said holddown finger before they pass from beneath the guide arm I63 when proceeding to a position of rest, with relation to the unit iii I, Where the tabfolding and button-inserting operations are carried out.

In view of the foregoing description of the machine herein illustrated as an embodiment of the present invention, it is believed that no further discussion of the same from either a structural or a functional standpoint is necessary to a complete understanding of it by those skilled in the art to which it pertains.

Although only one form of the invention is herein shown and described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made with respect to the present embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for use in assembling clasps of the type including a frame, an anchor clip and a button element, said frame being provided at one end with a garment receiving loop and said button element including a flexible tab connected at one end to said frame through the medium of said clip and provided at its other end with a button having a shank portion adapted to enter said loop and be held therein by the side arms of said frame; a conveyor adapted to receive said frames, clips and button elements and move them as one group after another to a definite assembling position, and a tab-folding and button inserting unit operating on said button elements as said groups assume said assembling position to so fold said tabs as to position their associated buttons at the entrance ends of said garmentreceiving loops and thereupon move the same into such loops, said unit comprising a movable tab-folding arm adapted to slidably engage the free ends of said tabs and move them forwardly and downwardly into a contiguous relation to said frames, a tab-engaging latch carried by said arm and located in the path of sliding movement of said tabs to arrest such movement as such tabs approach a contiguous relation to said frames, means for tripping said latch out of restraining enagement with said tabs as they assume a contiguous relation to said frames and for moving said latch into depressing engagement with said tabs so as to insure their being held in a contiguous relation to said frames, and means operating on said buttons while their associated tabs are maintained in a contiguous relation to said frames to move said buttons into said loops.

2. In a machine for use in assembling clasps of the type including a frame, an anchor clip and a button element, said frame being provided at one end with a garment receiving looprand said button element including a flexible tab connected at one end to said frame through the medium of said clip and provided at its other end with a button having a shank portion adapted to enter said loop and be held therein by the side arms of said frame; a conveyor adapted to re ceive said frames, clips and button elements and move them as one group after another to a definite assembling position, and a tab-folding and button inserting unit operating on said button elements as said groups assume said assembling position to so fold said tabs as to position their associated buttons at the entrance ends of said garment-receiving loops and thereupon move the same into such loops, said unit comprising a movable tab-folding arm adapted to slidably engage the free ends of said tabs and move them forwardly and downwardly into a contiguous relation to said frames, a tab-engaging latch carried by said arm and located in the path of sliding movement of said tabs to arrest such movement as such tabs approach a contiguous relation to said frames, means for tripping said latch out of restraining engagement with said tabs as they assume a contiguous relation to said frames and for moving said latch into depressing engagement with said tabs so as to insure their being held in a contiguous relation to said frames, indexing means carried by said arm and cooperating with said tabs and their associated frames to insure registration between such tabs and such frames at the instant said latch is tripped out of restraining engagement with the respective tabs, and means operating on said buttons while their associated tabs are maintained in a contiguous relation to said frames to move said buttons into said loops.

3. In a machine for use in assembling a clasp of the type including a frame and a button ele ment, said frame being provided at one end with a garment receiving loop and said button element including a flexible tab connected at one end to said frame and provided at its other end with a button having a shankportion adapted to enter said loop; a prime mover; a conveyor operatively connected to said prime mover and adapted to receive said frame and button element and move them as a group along a definite path of assembly, tab folding means operatively connected to said prime mover and timed with relation to said conveyor and located in a definite position along said path and there operating to engage said tab and so fold it as to position its associated button at the entrance end of said garment receiving loop, and button inserting means operatively connected to said prime mover and timed with relation to said conveyor and also located in a definite position along said path and there operating to engage.

said button after its associated tab has been folded and move said button into said loop;

45 In a machine for use is assembling: a clasp of the type including a frame, an anchor clip;

and a button. element, said frame" being pro-:

vided at one end with a garment receiving loop and said button element including a flexible tab connected at one end to said frame through the medium of said clip and provided at its other end with a button having a shank portion adapted to enter said loop and be held therein by the side arms of said frame; a prime mover; a conveyor operatively connected to said prime mover and adapted to receive said frame, clip and button element and move them as a group to successive assembling positions; crimping means operatively connected to said prime mover and timed with relation to said conveyor and operating on said clip as said group assumes one of said assembling positions to connect said clip to said frame; clenching means operative 1y connected to said prime mover and timed with relation to said conveyor and operating on said clip as said group assumes another of said assembling positions to connect said clip to one end of said flexible tab; and tab-folding and button inserting means operatively connected to said prime mover and timed with relation to said conveyor and operating on said tab as said group assumes still another of said assembling positions to so fold said tab as to position its associated button at the entrance end of said garment receiving loop and thereupon move said button into said loop.

5. In a machine for use in assembling a clasp of the type including a frame, an anchor clip and a button element, said frame being provided at one end with a garment receiving loop and said button element including a flexible tab connected at one end to said frame through the medium of said clip and provided at its other end with a button having a shank portion adapted to enter said loop and be held therein by the side arms of said frame; a conveyor including a carriage adapted to receive said frame, clip and button element, said carriage including retaining means for holding said frame, clip and button element in a definite grouped relation to each other; a prime mover; conveyor actuating means operatively connected to said prime mover for effecting step-by-step movement of said carriage, whereby said frame, clip and button element are moved as a group to successive assembling positions; crimping means operatively connected to said prime mover and timed with relation to said conveyor and operating on said clip as said group assumes one of said assembling positions to connect said clip to said frame; clenching means operatively connected to said prime mover and timed with relation to said conveyor and operating on said clip as said group assumes another of said! assembling positions to connect said clip to one end of said flexible tab; and tab-folding and button inserting means operatively connected to said prime mover and timed with relation to said conveyor and operating on said tab as said group assumes still another of said assembling positions to so fold said tab as to position its associated button at the entrance end of said garment receiving loop and there and said button element including a flexible tab connected at one end to said frame through the medium of said clip and provided at its other end with a button having ashanli por tion adapted to enter said loop and be held therein by the side arms of said frame; a prime mover; a conveyor operatively connected to said prime mover and adapted to receive said frame, clip and button element and move them as a group to successive assembling positions; tabpositioning means operatively connected to said prime mover and timed with relation to said conveyor and operating on said tab as said group assumes one of said assembling positions to urge on end of said tab into a definite position with relation to said clip; and clenching means operatively connected to said prime mover and timed with relation to said conveyor and operating on said clip to connect said clip to its associated tab after said one end of that tab has been urged into said definite position.

'7. In a machine for use is assembling a clasp of the type including a frame, an anchor clip and a button element, said frame being provided at one end with a garment receiving loop and said button element including a flexible tab connected at one end to said frame through the medium of said clip and provided at its other end with a button having a shank portion adapted to enter said loop and be held therein by the side arms of said frame; a prime mover; a conveyor operatively connected to said prime mover and adapted to receive said frame, clip and button element and move them as a group to a definite assembling position; and tabfolding and button inserting means operatively connected to said prime mover and timed with relation to said conveyor and operating on said button elements as said group assumes said assembling position to so fold said tab as to position its associated button at the entrance end of said garment receiving loop and thereupon move said button into said loop, said tab-folding and button inserting means including a movable tab-folding arm adapted to engage said tab and fold it into contiguous relation to its 7 associated frame so as to position said button at the entrance end of said loop; and a movable button-engaging element operatively connected to said prime mover and timed with relation to said conveyor and operating on said button while its associated tab is maintained in a contiguous relation to said frame to move said button into said loop.

8. In a machine for use in assembling a clasp of the type including a frame, an anchor clip and a button element, said frame being provided at one end with a garment receiving loop and said button element including a flexible tab connected at one end to said frame through the medium of said clip and provided at its other end with a button having a shank portion adapted to enter said loop and be held therein by the side arms of said frame; a prime mover; a conveyor operatively connected to said prime mover and adapted to receive said frame, clip and button element and move them as a group to a definite assembling position; and tab-folding and button inserting means operatively connected to said prime mover and timed with relation to said conveyor and operating on said button elements as said group assumes said assembling position to so fold said tab as to position its associated button at the entrance end of said garment-receiving loop and thereupon move said button into said loop, said tab-folding and button inserting means including a movable tab-folding arm adapted to slidably engag the free end of said tab and move, it for- V 20 wardly and downwardly into a contiguous relation to said frame, a tab-engaging latch carried by said arm and located in the path of sliding movement of said tab to arrest such movement as such tab approaches a contiguous relation to said frame, and a movable element operating in a timed relation to said arm to engage said button while its associated tab is maintained in a contiguous relation to said frame and at that time move said button into said loop.

9. In a machine for use in assembling a clasp of a type including a frame and a button element, said frame being provided at one end with a garment receiving loop and said button element including a fiexible tab connected at one end to said frame and provided at its other end with a button having a shank portion adapted to enter said loop; a prime mover; a conveyor operatively connected to said prime mover and adapted to receive a frame and a button element and move them as a group to definite assembling position; and a tab-folding and button inserting unit operatively connected to said prime mover and timed with relation to said conveyor and operating on said button element as said group assumes said assembling position to so fold said tab as to position its associated button at the entrance of said garment receiving loop and thereupon move said button into said 'loop, said unit comprising a movable tab-folding arm operating in definite time-relation to said conveyor and adapted to engage said tab and fold it into contiguous relation to its associated frame so as to position said button at the entrance end of said loop, and a button engaging finger operatively connected to said prime mover and timed with relation to said conveyor and operating in a definite time-relation to said tab-folding arm and adapted to engage said button while its associated tab is maintained in a contiguous relation to said frame and move said button into said loop.

10. In a machine for use in assembling a clasp of a type including a frame and a button element, said frame being provided at one end with a garment'receiving loop and said button element including a flexible tab connected at one end to said frame and provided at its other end with a button having a shank portion adapted to enter said loop; a prime mover; a conveyor operatively connected to said prime mover and adapted to receive a frame and a button element and move them as a group toa definite assembling position; and a tab-folding and button inserting unit operatively connected to said prime mover and timed with relation to said conveyor and operating on said button element as said group assumes said assembling position,

to so fold said tab as to position its associated button at the entrance end of said garment receiving loop and thereupon move said button into said loop, said unit comprising 'a movable tab-folding arm operating in a definite time relation to said conveyor and adapted to slidably V engage the free end of said tab and move it forwardly and downwardly into a contiguous relation to said frame, a tab-engaging latch car ried by said arm and located in the path of sliding movement of said tab to arrest suchmovement as said tab approaches a contiguous relation to said frame; anda button engaging finger operatively connected to said "prime;mover"- and timed with re1ation to said conveyor and 21 operating in a definite time-relation to said tab-folding arm and adapted to engage said button while its associated tab is maintained in a contiguous relation to said frame and move said button into said loop.

11. In a machine for use in assembling a clasp of a type including a frame and a button element, said frame being provided at one end with a garment receiving loop and said button element including a flexible tab connected at one end to said frame and provided at its other end with a button having a shank portion adapted to enter said loop; a prime mover; a conveyor operatively connected to said prime mover and adapted to receive a frame and a button element and move them as a group to a definite assembling position; and a tab-folding and button inserting unit operatively connected to said prime mover and timed with relation to said conveyor and operating on said button element as said group assumes said assembling position to so fold said tab as to position its associated button at the entrance end of said garment receiving 100p and thereupon move the same into said loop, said unit comprising a movable tabfolding arm operating in a definite time-relation to said conveyor and adapted to slidably engage the free end of the said tab and move it forwardly and downwardly into a contiguous relation to said frame, a tab-engaging latch carried by said arm and located in the path of sliding movement of said tab to arrest such movement as said tab approaches a contiguous relation to said frame, means for tripping said latch out of restraining engagement with said tab as it assumes a contiguous relation to said frame and for moving said latch into depressing engagement with said tab so as to insure its being held in a contiguous relation to said frame, and a button engaging finger operatively connected to said prime mover and timed with relation to said conveyor and operating in a definite time-relation to said tab-folding arm and adapted to engage said button while its associated tab is maintained in a contiguous relation to said frame and move said button into said loop.

12. In a machine for use in assembling a clasp of a type including a frame and a button element, said frame being provided at one end with a garment receiving loop and said button element including a flexible tab connected at one end to said frame and provided at its other end with a button having a shank portion adapted to enter said loop; a prime mover; a conveyor operatively connected to said prime mover and adapted to receive a frame and a button element and move them as a group to a definite assembling position; and a tab-folding and button inserting unit operatively connected to said prime mover and timed with relation to said conveyor and operating on said button element as said group assumes said assembling position to so fold said tab as to position its associated button at the entrance end of said garment receiving loop and thereupon move the same into such loop, said unit comprising a movable tab-folding arm operating in a definite time-relation to said conveyor and adapted to slidably engage the free end of said tab and move it forwardly and downwardly into a contiguous relation to said frame, a tab-engaging latch carried by said arm and located in the path of sliding movement of said tab to arrest such movement as said tab approaches a contiguous relation to said frame, means for tripping said latch out of restraining engagement with said tab as it assumes a contiguous relation to said frame and for moving said latch into depressing engagement with said tab so as to insure its being held in a contiguous relation to said frame, indexing means carried by said tab-folding arm and cooperating with said tab and its associated frame to insure registration between such tab and such frame at the instant said latch is tripped out of restraining engagement with said tab, and a button engaging finger operatively connected to said prime mover and timed with relation to said conveyor and operating in a definite timen'elation to said tabfolding arm and adapted to engage said button while its associated tab is maintained in a contiguous relation to said frame and move said button into said loop.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

